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Japan's Far East 7 Day Wild Winter Tour 2026

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Guides Yuka and Gen led our guests on a wonderful experience around eastern Hokkaido during a chilly January! From the seas of Shiretoko to the marshlands of Kushiro, guests were treated to a plethora of seasonal wildlife, including the elusive Blakiston’s Fish Owl.

Thank you as always to our guests for joining us on this trip, and many thanks to Yuka and Gen for their great job leading this tour. Take a look at a selection of some of the wonderful photos they both captured during this adventure below.

A group of walkers make their way through the snow towards Mt. Io in east Hokkaido. Steam is billowing from the volcanic crater between the two peaks.
Mt. Io, a former sulphur mine, is an impressive sight in winter with its billowing crater.
A photograph taken of Lake Mashu, Hokkaido, on a sunny winter day. The sky and surface of the lake are both a pure blue.
Lake Mashu cuts an impressive figure in the winter months with its sapphire-blue water.
A herd of deer graze in the grasslands on the Notsuke Peninsula in winter on a sunny day. The air is clear and in the distance, Kunaishiri Island is visible.
Herds of deer make their home and graze all day long on the Notsuke Peninsula's grasslands.
Three people stand on a snow-covered path at sunset, admiring the scenery around them as the light fails. The sky is clear except for a few clouds which reflect the warm evening light.
The evening light in Hokkaido's winter is simply magical.
A line of snowshoers descends down a snow-covered hill. It is a very sunny day and some wave at the camera.
Snowshoeing in this vast landscape is an experience unique to Hokkaido.
A view of cranes along the Setsuri River as seen through a scope. In the early morning light, the river looks a peachy pink colour and steam rises from its surface.
Cranes roost along the Setsuri River. Even if they're far away, our handy scope will help to find them.
The steam train Kushiro Shitsugen SL crosses a railway bridge. Steam billows from its smokestack. It is a clear day.
The group was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the Kushiro Shitsugen SL, a steam train crossing the wetlands in winter.